FERA partners in exclusive EFAD screening of “Mr Nobody Against Putin” by David Borenstein & Pavel Talankin

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Twice a year, under the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU, the European Film Agency Directors (EFAD) organises a special screening “Rendez-vous with European Cinema” which celebrates the richness and diversity of the European film sector.

As the Danish Presidency comes to a end, EFAD – in partnership with the Danish Film Institute – presented the Danish Oscar film candidate Mr Nobody Against Putin, by director David Borenstein & co-director Pavel Talankin, on 8 Decembre at Cinéma Palace in Brussels.

The event was supported by FERA alongside the European Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (ECCD), the European Audiovisual Production association (CEPI), Cineuropa, European Producers Club (EPC), Europa Cinemas, Europa Distribution, Europa International and the Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA).

Tine Fischer, CEO of the Danish Film Institute introduced the event by reminding the audience that supporting European cinema is key to protect European culture and democracy, and noted that our European model, including the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) and the Creative Europe MEDIA programme is essential: a film like Mr Nobody Against Putin could not have existed without it.

It was followed by a panel discussion “When Regulation Enables Creation: Enforcing the AVMSD” gathering the CSA – Superior Audiovisual Council of Belgium, Mads Vigsø Bendsen, Culture & Media Attaché, Permanent Representation of Denmark in the EU, Julie-Jeanne Regnault, Managing Director, European Producers Club, and Marta Sanagustin, Head of Sector for AV and Media Policy, European Commission.

The panel underlined that improved data quality, access and traceability are fundamental to effective regulation and enforcement of European works obligations. The CSA and the European Commission highlighted plans to strengthen and centralise data collection with the European Audiovisual Observatory and EFAD, stressing that reliable and confidential data will be crucial for monitoring compliance and for the upcoming AVMSD evaluation, particularly on prominence and media services of general interest.

Speakers also agreed that quotas alone are not sufficient to ensure visibility of European content. Emphasis was placed on the need for stronger common standards, better enforcement of prominence obligations and the exchange of best practices. Independent production was highlighted as a cornerstone of media pluralism and competitiveness, alongside calls for closer scrutiny of the 30% quota’s diversity impact and continued MEDIA programme support to improve the online visibility and accessibility of European works.